Hong Kong, May 18 -- As May arrived, interest in Virgin Australia (VA), now in voluntary administration, had become a stampede. At press time, administrator Deloitte Australia confirmed it had signed non-disclosure agreements with eight bidders who now have access to VA's data.
The receiver said it also was negotiating with 12 other parties interested in VA. Indicative offers are due by May 15 and binding offers in mid-June. Deloitte partner, Vaughan Strawbridge, told the first meeting of the airline's creditors he was confident of finding a buyer by July.
One of the latest bidders to emerge is Australian mining magnate, Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, who controls the country's third-largest mining group, Fortescue Metals. He is reported to hav...